El Squibbonator wrote:I love me some Junji Ito as much as the next guy, but I'm actually surprised at how much negativity I'm seeing with regards to the anime.

Well, people nowadays do tend to be negative about everything, since it's easier to tear something down than build something up. Anime fans tend to have a bad reputation for pessimism, but we see it in like every fandom. Anyway, I don't really know anything about Ito, but (and I'm pretty optimistic about anime) the negativity is kinda deserved in my opinion. The animation is really bad, and, to me, the show comes off as more cheesy and unintentionally funny than creepy. And I actually kinda like the show. But I think I'd watch an anthology series even if it insulted me and everything I hold dear.

I would like more horror annimay too, tho. Another, Shiki, and Mononoke were cool, but I can't think of too many other strictly horror shows I've watched.

Avi; Bon/Kiku/Yakumo VIIII used to work in a factory and I was really happy because I could daydream all day -- I.C.And thanks to EVA, I've started like myself and that has made me very happy. Mr. Anno, please keep working on EVA a lot more. and thank you so much for everything!!

Just finished Gurren Lagann. I had some trouble deciding between sub and dub at first, as the dub isn't as bad as most, and I prefer dubs when watching action-intensive shows, but I chose full on sub by around ep. 5. I really liked the first half, and all the character development that happened there (particularly

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Simon's insane rampage after Kamina's murder, yet keeping a level head when he needed to. It was a surprisingly realistic portrayal of grief and depression for such an over-the-top show

The second half, I absolutely hated at first. I never liked time-skip stories (Evangelion Q is an exception because the main character skips 14 years as well), but I really enjoyed it by the end of ep17. I absolutely adored the references to both the Christian creation story AND the theme of evolution throughout. The text that appeared on screen saying that Team Dai-Gurren took whatever LordGenome's city was called on the Seventh Day. Overall, I really enjoyed both parts, but I think I liked the first half more. My only problems with the show are the simplistic animation during some early episodes, the aforementioned time skip, and the overuse of comedy during serious situations (especially that last one). The only thing that ever really pissed me off was when

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Boota, a comic relief character, turned out to be incredibly important to the plot, and crucial to Team Dai-Gurren's survival at the last second with absolutely zero foreshadowing. That's terrible writing.

I'm planning to watch Gurren-Hen (Childhood's End) and Lagann-Hen (All the Lights in the Sky are Stars) next, but I'm having trouble deciding what to watch next. I'm considering Cowboy Bebop, since I've never seen it, but I want to watch something more chill after the absolute insane absurd action of Gurren Lagann, and I don't know if Cowboy Bebop is that. Would you recommend I watch Cowboy Bebop next, or something else, and save it for later?

Well, you have to watch Cowboy Bebop sometime. But for something really low-key (at first - it builds) and less known than it should be, you could try Beast Player Erin (it's quite long though, at 50 episodes).

"Being human, having your health; that's what's important."(from: Magical Shopping Arcade Abenobashi )"As long as we're all living, and as long as we're all having fun, that should do it, right?"(from: The Eccentric Family )Avatar: Sad, sad Shinji... (details); Past avatars.Afterwards... my post-Q Evangelion fanfic (discussion)

Battle Athletes Victory, episodes 1-6:No wonder chaz as a man of wealth and taste likes this show, because it feels like the complete product after the practice run that was the OVA. Considering this franchise is built around a preposterous future sports setting, the OVA was probably too epic for its own good. The 45-minute episodes felt bloated, even though at only six episodes Akari's overall character arc also felt kind of abridged, seeing how fast she became a god-tier athlete. But now that I've been exposed to what Victory has to offer, the omission of one particular genre staple in the OVA has become noticeable to me: even though it's a sports anime (of the fan-service variety, but regardless), there really wasn't any traditional hot-blooded sports anime characters in the main cast. Tanya comes closest, but she's more of a half-animalistic wild child than the archetypal "hard work and guts" person who overcomes all obstacles by sheer force of will alone.

Now, I'm not saying that a sports anime must automatically check this particular box - in fact, I thought one of the best things about the OVA was the somewhat unexpected core cast, especially in terms of Akari's roommates. At the beginning I thought Tanya was going to be her wingwoman/mascot animal for sure, but instead Akari got roomed with

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the Moon Amish princess and the guy in drag. And yes, the most elaborate spinning sakuga ass shot in the OVA is man-ass, which I found beautifully trollish.

But on the other hand, when all of your characters are either timid or ice cool with no firecracker-types in the mix, their interactions can lack the sort of spontaneous bursts of emotion that one would expect in the context of competitive sports. And I think the creative team working on Victory realized this as well, because they added in Ichino, a million-volt tomboy who really feels like the crucial piece that was missing in the OVA. She's all speed lines and reaction faces and screaming, and I love her. And since the longer format of a two-cour TV anime gives Akari plenty of time to start out as a near-hopeless fuck-up, her friendship with Ichino, her complete opposite in personality and outlook, also gets time to shine, and it's this relationship that gives the show its heart. It's the sort of friendship where the self-assertive person is constantly exasperated by the insecurities of her shrinking violet bestie, but at the same time would take a bullet for her if need be, and it's such a sweet and entertaining dynamic. So hopefully the show maintains this level of fun (read: Ichino) throughout.

Glad you liked it. I haven't seen this show since it aired... Oh man... 10 years, time flies. I would rewatch it, but this show left such a deep imprint on my brain, it feels like I've watched the show yesterday, lol.Maybe I should just watch the movies, since I haven't seen them yet?

AdamMalkobitch wrote:Would you recommend I watch Cowboy Bebop next,

As pwhodges said, this show is a must - it's a classic for a reason. It's not really chill though... I mean, it depends on your definition. It is a lot more down to earth than the zany Gurren Lagann, but it's not exactly a chill ride either. Maybe you should try Episode 1 and see if you vibe with it?

Blimey, Mr. Tines, a quote from seven years ago? That was back when I used to before typing your name.Some habits do die, thankfully.

The wait is finally over. Some blessed souls kindly subbed the SYD movie and latest OAD.

What’s an adaptation of a gutter-minded 4koma going to do with a one hour-running time?: Go balls-out with the lewd humour and really push the envelope of already-questionably good-bad, bad-good taste to the very edge? Maybe do something really ambitious, completely original even with the characters in a setting that can’t be done on TV? Obviously not. It's just the same format, same animation quality, same opening credits, same old same old except for double the usual length. Suffice to say- I loved every second of it.

The OAD ends with a “The End?” card, something they’ve already done at least once before. It wouldn't be surprising to see another OAD appear with the next tankobon, but if this is indeed the end- Seitokai Yakuindomo can be proud of its 41 episode count. Not bad for a gag comedy.

pwhodges wrote:But for something really low-key, you could try Beast Player Erin

Yui's internet gal persona appearance reminded me somewhat of Hilda from Cross Ange mainly by the red hair with tails. I keep thinking that if Ranko wasn't so fixated on Yukana then she would probably hook up with the blond friend of Junichi, Yui would then hook up with the blue haired friend with glasses who discovered her identity and Mr. Lolicon would then be with Nene who despite changing her loli appearance for a gal look at the end of the episode would likely change it back.

AdamMalkobitch wrote:If you aren't watching the dub, you're not doing it right. The English dub does the comedic style of the show so well it's amazing. This shit is on the level of Afro Samurai or P&SWG

I’ll keep that in mind.

Today i saw the last part of the third Digimon Adventure tri movie. One short scene that i loved due to my like of couples is Mimi bringing food for Izzy and not one word is uttered. I love atmosphere.

Well, I took AdamMalkobitch's advice and went back to the first episode of My First Girlfriend is a Gal in English dubbed version. I was not disappointed, Funimation makes some of the funniest dubs ever and I look forward to the rest of the series in this brilliance.

I just finished the dub of Hajimete no Gal, and I'm not sure why I expected anything other than the ending it had. The fat character was my least favorite character in the show (for obvious reasons), but the other characters' interactions with him were pure platinum, and I liked how he became this insane, berserk gorilla person at the end. The dub was the best part, and I absolutely loved how flowing and comedic it was at times. I'm surprised Funimation was able to do a dub this good, as most of their dubs are just downright awful.

Just caught up on most of the seasonals. Thought I'd drop some thoughts:

Beatless 6.5/10

Direction here is really all over the place. Read the first volume of the LN and while that seems very condensed and secure in the story it's trying to tell -- domestic robot-mommy-gf dramedy with the occasional battle sequence with luddite terrorists sprinkled in to keep the narrative fresh. The anime still seems committed to being a shounen-esque action series and all of the endearing moments of daily activity with your QT-Super-Advanced AI are far too sparse. I'm giving it a tentative 6.5 because it has shown occasional flashes of brilliance, but fully expect to dock it another point in future if it keeps along this track.

Darling in the Franxx 10/10.

That's a rare 10 for me, and it's probably going to be the greatest anime of the 2010s. My thoughts are more prescient in the main thread. Most recent episode was even more brilliant.

Yuru Camp 8/10

Maximum comfy, but I feel like the zest is missing from the cast. I imagine they'll grow as the series continues.

Citrus 5/10

Direction is even more spastic than Beatless with subject matter that needs a steady hand. I'm probably coming down too hard on this effort, but what I've watched thus far has been a chore, frankly.

Violet Evergarden 9.5/10

KyoAni's stellar-looking adaptation of the purple-prose ridden tear-jerker LN. KyoAni really is touching this magically, and their edits and treatment has really done the concept and characters justice -- even more so than the source material. I'm actually a utilitarian environmentalist in that I don't buy tissues -- I've always tapped into my Mediterranean roots and used a handkerchief. This series sent me to the nearest Duane Reade for a box of Kleenex UltraSoft with lotion, because I cannot stop crying while watching it. It's really got me broken up, and since art's primary function is provocation -- it excels here. Truly magnificent.

Punished "Venom" Ran1Vanity of VanitiesEvery post in Evageeks automaticaly becomes masturbatory material. It's nothing new. ~JustcrazyguyRan's persistent irony is a coping mechanism he uses to try and create some understanding of his paradoxical attraction to and disgust of the elitist bourgeois slaughterhouse in which he's forever trapped. --Muggy

How. What magic is there that I can't see. (I'm going to use rans post to list my complaints with this show now, I'm sorry)

The show is really pretty, both animation and background art, but that has been the only thing I've enjoyed consistently so far.

The music is either off or way too loud. One particular scene in episode 4 had this super awkwardly placed track that looked like it was ripped straight from Band of Brothers, of all things. Said scene would have better served with no music at all

Violet is cute, I suppose, but don't feel at all invested in her search for what is love and no other character so far has elicited any strong reaction from me, and that's a problem, as so far, the show has gone in an episodic format where every story explores a different aspect of love. That's all fine, but none of the stories presented have been anything above "alright" for me so far.

Also, I know this complaint has lost most of its meaning from overuse, but I do think Kyonai goes a bit too hard on the effects at times. For example, there will be a scene were the main focus is on a characters face and all background elements are blurred. For what reason? I see the character clearly, do they think I'll be that distracted by a pretty background that they'd rather blur it all out? There was a similar problem in Hibike Euphonium.

To conclude, how can anyone cry at the stories presented and why do i care, really

Up to episode 12 of Mahoutsukai no Yome, which continues to be good enough that I've not dropped it, but still falls somehow short of its potential. It hasn't really engaged on an emotional level, which, given that I can get blurry eyed over pieces of equipment requesting specific upgrades, is somewhat surprising.

At least she wasn't jiggling around in a disconcerting manner all the time. Or at all, even.

After a bunch more episodes, Koihime Musou continues being silly fun, with all the features previously mentioned. It just surprises me that this is only 10 years old as it feels like it ought be 20-ish -- say contemporaneous with series like BurnUp/Excess -- from the style. And there are three seasons of this!

And caught up now with, and eagerly awaiting the next episode of, Yuru Camp∆, the cute girls doing cute (camping) things series that (one brief onsen scene aside) manages to keep the characters bundled up in many layers of insulation all the time -- even inside their school building. Definitely an adventure series, in the sense of adventure being someone else being uncomfortable in some far-away land -- my nose and toes have tended to feel chilled in sympathy while watching.

Justacrazyguy wrote:How. What magic is there that I can't see. (I'm going to use rans post to list my complaints with this show now, I'm sorry)

The show is really pretty, both animation and background art, but that has been the only thing I've enjoyed consistently so far.

The music is either off or way too loud. One particular scene in episode 4 had this super awkwardly placed track that looked like it was ripped straight from Band of Brothers, of all things. Said scene would have better served with no music at all.

I docked half a point from my review because I agree with this in a less forceful tone. Music is meh at times but it doesn't necessarily detract in my view.

Violet is cute, I suppose, but don't feel at all invested in her search for what is love and no other character so far has elicited any strong reaction from me, and that's a problem, as so far, the show has gone in an episodic format where every story explores a different aspect of love. That's all fine, but none of the stories presented have been anything above "alright" for me so far.

I'm only tangentially interested in the Violet/Gilbert development, although it does elicit a lot of emotion from me. I'm more interested in folks like Lucuilla and Iris -- that's the mark of strength for me in regard to the show, the viewer is almost like Violet, along for the ride and searching for what love means to this series.

Also, I know this complaint has lost most of its meaning from overuse, but I do think Kyonai goes a bit too hard on the effects at times. For example, there will be a scene were the main focus is on a characters face and all background elements are blurred. For what reason? I see the character clearly, do they think I'll be that distracted by a pretty background that they'd rather blur it all out? There was a similar problem in Hibike Euphonium.

The director of photography released a statement on the KyoAni twitter in regard to the flashback sequences: they've been getting a ton of heat on the Nipponese net. He said he's presenting them with the strong filter and bokeh effects to call their validity into question.

To conclude, how can anyone cry at the stories presented and why do i care, really

I get in the mood by reading a lot of Saramago tbh, I just finished Memorial do Convento and it's very much in the same spirit.

Punished "Venom" Ran1Vanity of VanitiesEvery post in Evageeks automaticaly becomes masturbatory material. It's nothing new. ~JustcrazyguyRan's persistent irony is a coping mechanism he uses to try and create some understanding of his paradoxical attraction to and disgust of the elitist bourgeois slaughterhouse in which he's forever trapped. --Muggy

I remember after episode 8, I was left asking myself "well what are they gonna do now?" Kamina was the lifeblood of the show; he stole every scene, he pushed everyone and everything forward, and I had thought the show would lose basically all of its momentum after he died. I was worried that I would lose interest in watching it, because overall he was the character that had kept me interested up until that point.And then the rest of the series happened. And instead of losing all the energy that Kamina gave, the show was injected with more energy, more momentum; which in a way meant a lot more now that Kamina was gone. And at multiple times I thought it would stop, but every time it looked like it would it just came back stronger than ever. But the most important part of this I guess it that none of the character's triumphs ever felt fake or forced. When I say I've never seen anything like it this is basically what I mean. The characters make a big deal about going against impossible odds (it's virtually the entire show, actually), but somehow I always believed in two things that lent to me a constantly high investment with the characters: 1) that the odds they were up against were actually impossible, and 2) that anytime they (or just Simon, seeing as he was the inspirator post-Kamina) really wanted to win against these odds, they could. And every single time the stakes were raised up a level, I started with #1 and progressed to #2, without exception. I don't know HOW this happened, but I think that's kind of the point. The whole show just happened, and it simultaneously makes absolutely perfect sense and absolutely no sense how it did.But all that truly doesn't do justice to how much I loved it. I still can't quite put it into words. I felt every emotional high and the emotions just got higher and higher and higher. I love it because it's Gurren Lagann.